Connecticut scraps plans to close key rest areas

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6/10/2011

More than a week after announcing plans to close two rest areas on July 1 and another five sites in 2012, the Connecticut Department of Transportation has decided to keep these critical rest areas open.

“We preach safety on the roads. We say, ‘If you’re tired, pull over, rest, take a break,’” Guerrera said in the release. “Closing the rest areas send(s) the opposite message.”

The two rest areas originally slated for closure in July were located on the eastbound and westbound lanes of Interstate 84 in Willington. The other non-commercial rest areas sites scheduled to be closed were along interstates 84, 95 and 91.

According to the ConnDOT release, the rest area closures were expected to save the state $400,000 in fiscal year 2011-2012 and approximately “$1.3 million per year in staff and maintenance costs” once all seven of the sites were closed.